Light of Youth Creative Organisation (Lyco) led by its Executive Director James Kitchen over the weekend presented noble awards to a number of players including Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda and Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule during the 15th edition of the National Schools Youth Arts Festival (Nasfest) held at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.
Kitchen, whose organisation has been running the international youth cultural festival since 2017, said the awards have always been part of their event as part of recognising contributions made by various players to different sectors.
Chimwendo Banda was decorated with an award for his role in youth empowerment whereas Kamtukule received an award for her role in promoting and marketing tourism in the country.
The other recipients included social media influencer and writer Stanley Onjezani Kenani for his role in humanitarian and literature works, Deborah Mbale of Mai Mbambande for her role in supporting the elderly, business magnet Simbi Phiri for his role in community development and dramatist Smith Likongwe for his immense contribution to the growth of theatre.
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“This is not the first time we are doing this. We have presented awards in the past years and, so, this is just a continuation,” Kitchen said.
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The three-day international festival started on Friday and ended on Sunday with performances coming from local and international acts.
“Through the festival, we have created an international platform where countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe share the stage with schools and youth in Malawi,” Kitchen said.
He said since they started the event, they have managed to reach out to over 90 schools in the country as well as trained close to 2,000 young people.
Kitchen also said, through Nasfest, they have managed to create a network with other countries in the Southern African Development Community region.
